Bhakti yoga
Bhakti yoga
Bhakti yoga is the path of devotion. The word ‘bhakti’ comes form the root bhaja which means to ‘adore, serve, love, to be devoted.’ The practices of bhakti yoga aim to channel the emotions and feelings towards a higher, sublime experience. Many people give this path a religious bent, however an ardent practitioner who is able to feel intense devotion will automatically achieve the state of concentration, regardless of religious beliefs.
Ways to practise bhakti yoga
- Look at all the people you have known in life and identify those who have uplifted you or have helped to expand your perceptions and understandings. These are the people you should associate with.
- Be positive in all situations, and remain connected and identified with your strengths.
- Have a mind that is innocent and free from pretence. Then there is no falsity or crookedness; the mind will become simple and transparent.
- Develop a sense of unity with others: feel that ‘I am part of you and you are part of me’.
- Be content and accept the realities of the situation in which you find yourself, leaving aside the critical mind.
Further reading: Bhakti Yoga Sagar series, Upasana, Practice of Bhakti Yoga, Teachings of Swami Satyananda Saraswati,
